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3^ 



VERSES 



iCopyrighted. 1902) 



BY 
C. MAUGHS 



o • „ o > • 1 



» , O 5 J 5 



NEW YORK: 

THE IRVING COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



THE LIBRARY OF 

CONGRESS, 
Two Copies Received 

m. 5 1902 

Copyright ^^ntoy 

bIaSS ^^Xa No 

COPY 3. 






MONSEIGNEUR. 

firm, pure lips, that smile so sweet. 
With knowledge so pure and deep; 
Tell me from out your Karmatie keep, 
Smiling on me who awake from long sleep, 
Is love the mystery and beauty I think? 

poet-soul, you who have grasped the truth. 

That others are content to seem; 

Speak but to me yearning in sorrow and 

ruth, 
tell me yearning to know the truth; 
Is love always sweet as our dreams? 

Say but a word of this deep, new song, 
Of the love between soul and soul, 
Tell, oh tell me who wonder and long. 
Say to me, you who are grand and strong — 
tell me can such love ere grow cold? 



FAINT NOT THOU IN THY STRONG 
HEART. 

Thou savest, live — and thou wilt not forget. 
I clasp my hands and sullen look in life's 

face. 
'Tis better, I think, to let my soul escape — 

and yet — 
And yet — can this heart hold thro' the race ? 
Can I sit and watch the drops of life 
Run out from a heart till the last be bled ? 
Who is the judge? What is the choice of 

God? 
Some devil throws into my life's full-tide, 
A stone — and the waters chafe and strive 

ever to pass this rod — 
What — I am threatening God — I can turn 

it aside? 
A look from thine eyes will quiet the strife : 

quiet grave I Is it of thy peace I read ? 

1 would go far from the world : I would hold 
Your hand unto my lips, and kneel — 
Say not farewell, dearest I Thou canst 

make 
This rebel heart grow still : heart — brain — 
reel I 

4 



Faint Not Thou in Thy Strong Heart. 

1 am your captive, and wliile life endures, 
Xay, — soul, — shall hold life's sweetest flow- 
ers thine. 
Love's full measure shall be meted out 
With royal hand to thee, king of mine, 
Who ne'er can do wrong — heart, thou 

canst not doubt ! 
Thine eyes have baptized this soul in fire: 

cup of wine, 
Thou art but tears slow bled from a cut 

vine — 
Let be! — Here, I drink to thee, — thus! 
Ever thine. 



WHEREUNTO MAY I LIKEN THEE? 

The sea is deep, dearest, deeper still my love. 
I cannot shut thy dear face from out my 

heart ; 
Thou resteth there and the heaven above 
Shall lean gently down to bless thee, my 

love. 

Deep in thy eyes so true and fond — 
I see a soul, dreaming, serenely bright. 
Their deep tranqillity speaks to me of the 

strange and vast beyond — 
Of the yearning for that unattainable, mys- 
tic light ! 

My soul is fragrant with thy clinging kiss. 
My hand ennobled — for it on thy strong 

breast hath lain. 
And this soft touch my fingers thrilling, 
My heart doth long for as thirsty desert for 

gentle rain. 

6 



Whcrcunto May I Liken Thcc? 

My eyes so long for thee: my heart cries 

out continually — 
from this grief which treads on jo}^, set 

me free ! 
To thy soul's eagle flight 1 fain would soar; 
Thou, mine own true king, I love and I 

adore ! 



ONE DAY MORE ! 

love, a tired day has passed — 

All life seems changed; 

Thy sky's bright beauty overcast; 

The heavens — the clouds — seem strange. 

Let me see in thy dear eyes ! 

Canst think this heart untrue? 

love, could'st ever change? 

Thou art my king; 

And I will thee ever love. 

The forest hath the music of its leaves; 

And heaven its bright blue stars above; 

And I — I have thee — 

All thy great heart, love! 

hasten thy coming to me. 

0, King, so strong and brave, lift my sick 
heart to thee! 

And from this sorrow which followeth glad- 
ness — set me free ! 

To thy soul's eagle flight I fain would soar; 

Thou, mine own true king — I love and I 
adore. 



THE MOON HAS SET. 

O, what shall be to-morrow — 
The sadness of to-night? 
Can the heart endure this sorrow. 
Crushed out of sight? 

Forgive these wild tears, love. 
Must such madness be? 
Let sleep lock fast my grief, love. 
And dream — loving thee. 

O world, as God has made it, all is beauty : 

And knowing this is love — 

And love is duty — 

What further may be sought for or declared ? 



ATTHIS. 

0, to know that wild thirst — to have always 

present 
That gnawing hunger of the soul — 
The thirst— the hunger one cannot quiet — 
The fierce desires — the heart wild with the 

struggle— 

O agony ! to feel that life's dark sea 
Has barred my soul from thee; 
To look into the eyes — to touch the cheek — 
And know there is no healing 

From the glance, deep love revealing — 
And to know that inexorable, tierce an- 
guish 
Of strong desire — of dreams born but to 
coldly languish — agony ! 



10 



LETO TO XIOBE. 

Soft o'er the forest the eve is declining, 

Softly the sweet breeze comes from afar; 

Hushed is the voice of sweet birds swift- 
winging, 

Pale shines the light from yon quiet star. 

While thro' the night's tranquil mystery my 
lover. 

With heart more precious than heaven e'er 
bore. 

Comes with soft-smiling, exquisite fervor, 

To his tryst — true knight to adore. 

Swiftly he comes under the shade of dark 
boughs, 

To win for one hour the birth-right of 
Gods— 

Softly he comes — my dream — my desire! 

A soft radiant glory fills the still night. 

Heart to heart — soul to soul — one moment — 

the beauty and grace of his eyes' unutter- 
able light — 

And must love's sorrow tear's from these 
eyes wring ? 

0, to save thee — to reprieve thee — my lover, 
my king! 

it 



"FATAL CYPRIAN.'^ 

To-night, when 1 beheld thee, came such 
wild desires thronging, 
Despite my coldest, strongest self-con- 
trol- 
Such passionate regret — such intense long- 
ing, 
That tempest-tossed are all the strong 
passions of my soul ! 

Just when I dreamed I had succeeded 
In raising a firm barrier that rests above, 

And all the fatal wishes from my heart had 
weeded 
Of every blossom of despairing love ! 

Across my heart a sudden storm came sweep- 
ing— 
And behold ! The barriers fell broken at 
my feet ; 
Desires awake like fire l(';i])iiig — 

Thy presence breathed out a fragrance too 
subtly sweet. 

J2 



''Fatal Cyprian/' 

And such an unutterable longing to possess 
thee 
Ean surging through my being with its 
wild unrest; 
0, to reach out mine arms and forever fold 
thee 
Close to my rapturous, gladdened breast! 

And then you passed from me — and the 
dark current 
Of my sad life foamed recklessly along; 
And now I struggle in the torrent — 

God ! God ! hold me that I may do no 
other heart a wrong! 



13 



MY FRIEND. 

Leave me not, friend, 

My star of consolation ! 

Lend me thy great spirit's light 

For my path's illumination. 

My heart with weakness faints, 

Desiring I know not what; 

give me of thy great heart's strength; 

My friend, leave me not ! 

Ijeave me not, my friend ! 
Thou all of love and power; 
Let the grace of thy dear eyes 
In my black and evil hours, 
Uphold — compel the rebel fires 
Which burn within so hot, 
Stay thou near me ; 
Ever mv friend — leave me not! 



14 



A DREAM. 

"O gods, what love, what yearning, contributed 
to this."— Sappho. 

Thro' all the sweet night that is vanished 

and gone — 
From the light of first stars to the rose of 

coming dawn ; 
In a shadow of beauty and perfume divine, 
We met in a dream, lover of mine. 

Softly the glory of love stole over thy face 

As I leaned on thy breast in sweetest em- 
brace — 

And my bosom thrilled with exquisite de- 
light, 

Touched by the fire of the wild heart trem- 
bling 'neath mine. 

0, the love light in thy eyes. 
And the softest, divinest caresses, and sighs 
With the flower of love o'erblown — 
And thy voice low and sweet as music di- 
vine. 

f5 



A Drcam^ 

The dream has vanished — the night wind 
moans 

With sorrow for the coming morn — I am 
alone — 

Yet thy dear love — thy caresses — burn on 
my breast — 

And I drink, love, to thee, in this violet- 
crowned chalice of rapture! 



16 



AD COELUM TENDENS LUMINA. 

What is the aim of life and efforts here: 

Short, imperfect, sad — 

Is it of such vahie as the lighting of the 
candle ? 

But the candle — the great infinite above — 
beyond — 

Can we not grasp the hope of something 
yet to come? 

Take this from the heart and all is darkest 
shadow : 

Standing in the glory of a present happi- 
ness 

The gloom of to-morrow ol)scures the bright- 
est sun. 

Is this true? Are we so lowly couraged? 

Is life an idle dream? Without this help, 
yes ; 

The flowers of the soul must die, and in 
the darkness 

Bloom the deadly night-shade of despair. 

But has there not been writ : "Who follow- 
eth Me 

Walketh not in darkness, but the light of 
life"— 

J7 



Ad Coelom Tendens Lomina* 

And may our sore hearts lean upon these 
words — 

And is this why we are so wounded ? Hearts, 

Souls, so crushed in the wine-press of griev- 
ous sorrows 

That we may look beyond — above? 

Yea, this must be — and set high above the 
clouds, 

Glitters the star of hope the great God has 
given unto us. 

And the star of love which is life — mysteri- 
ous life and love — 

Blessed be God forever, who has given 

This great and holy gift to lift 

Our souls higher, o'on to the stars — 

Ad majorem Dei gloriam ! 



18 



SOLATOR. 

Succor me, Christ ! Stretch forth Thy 

ever tender hand. 
For I am sinking in a wilder sea 
Than Thy beloved in the stormy Galilee. 
The soul thou gavest life stands despairing 

on the cold sands. 

My heart is weary of this faithless, famine- 
stricken land, 

Wherefrom all truth, high impulse, has fled 
forth inexorably ; 

And this wild soul tliou savest or in despair 
it dies. 

If it flies forth this night and in Thy pres- 
ence stands. 

The dew of agony falls from this brow like 

rain: 
The night that giveth rest falls like a leaden 

pall. 
Forehead, thorn-entwined, Heart, so 

sadly slain! 
Thou, crucified, wounded One, put forth 

Thy hand— still all— 
X9 



Solatof. 

^^y — peace — staunch the pierced Heart — - 

it shall he whole again — 
The sea hath calms — the winds hath rest — 
And a pause must come to seeming endless 

agony ; 
And the welcome silence of most sweet death 

to this o'er-wearied hreast. 



20 



CHILD OF MGHT. 

The sun sinks to darkness — 

The lonely night draws near, 

And my heart faints witli sadness, 

And grows cold with fear — 

love — life's sorrow 

Enfold me — close — yet more near ! 

Just to-night — hohl me — death comes on the 

morrow, 
Tt whispers soft — whispers low — in my ear. 

0, the night's silent sadness — fathomless — 

That falls on my soul ! 

Stirring wild thoughts from its (\<v.kv t 
ahyss — 

Xow sighing — now telling of hopes grown 
cold ; 

Of the courage once reaching to high em- 
prise, 

That now fails — dying — wath the night 
wand's breath : 

Of the life — of the light — that made eagle 
the eyes ; 

Of the heart now entering the pathway of 
death. 

2) 



Child of Ni^ht. 

1 iiear the rippling of far-distant water — 
I feel the cool hreath of night sighing low 
They speak to my heart in voices far sad 

der 
Than music heard long, long ago. 
And the pale, holy dawn of the morning 
Falls cold on passion whose struggle is o'er 
Hearts break — souls die — evermore. 



21 



MEETING UNDER THE STARS. 

A long black forest and the fire-flies blink- 
ing. 

And the clear stars' tranquil beauty over- 
head; 

A startled heart beating as a spent deer, 

Listening — trembling — for a loved voice 
near; 

Under the waving branches, deep shadows 
casting ; 

Into the thick darkness, sweet-scented, nec- 
tar-drinking. 

A stretch of star-lit field under trees where 

the shadow dips ; 
An owFs most mournful hoot — a lone bird's 

note above; 
The rustling murmur of trees moved by the 

voices of night — 
A quick, swift step — a sigh — soft and light — 
An answering voice as low, laden with fear 

and love; 
And then — my heart on thine — each to each 

— lips to lips. 

23 



TO MONSEIGNEUR. 

Stand forth, friend, raise thy dear eyes — 

straight into mine — now I 
Let us speak — soul to soul — the dire sisters 

will allow 
This — ^that I stand in the glory of this 

light- 
Never to go out into the blackness shrouding 
The faint stars of hope and courage, but 

crowding 
Into the infinite grace of thy dear eyes 
All heaven's brightness; hold my soul close 

to thine I 
Past agonies — future pain — rest in oblivion 

— dearest eves, look into mine ! 



24 



REQUIES. 

Under the dark cypress soon I'll rest apart : 
E'en now 1 hear the music they will whisper 

o'er my stilFd heart — 
Sweet and low they will murmur — murmur 

soon — 
Of the dreamer's heart now silent in the 

tomb. 

And I hear the sweet-throated birds where 

the tall trees wave. 
Sighing their tender love-notes over my 

grave — 
Soft and low the setting sun will long 

shadows o'er the tangled grasses, 
And the cold moon lean mournful down a'6 

on it passes. 

I can see the white moon fill with her pale 

light 
The wondrous and pensive beauty of the 

still night — 

25 



RequJes* 

Sweet and low the mystic stars whisper of 

love divine, giving rest — 
But wake no responsive throb from the 

dreamer's breast. 

The old, sweet perfuma of the flowers can- 
not move again, 

"i'he heart, erstwhile thrilled with beauty—- 
now, it is in vain ! 

Soft and low with sweet familiar sound, 
glides by the pulsing river — 

But to this once restless heart its music 
brings no quiver. 

There in the solitary silence the dark cypress 
sadly murmur in the gloom 

Of the heart whose dream of life — of pas- 
sion — withered in their bloom. 

Sweet and low the sighing breezes tell 

Of the tired heart now slumberina^ well. 



26 



MY DREAM. 

Some time — the leaves of Fate hold the de- 
cree — 

I will lie watching thee in sweetest sleep; 

Mine eyes upon thy face — my prayer that 
God thee keep, 

Softly and adoringly my heart will throb 
with love for thee. 

And on thy dear brow my kiss fall tenderly: 
My lips shall touch the throat where the 

warm blood leaps deep throbbing — 
The mist of tears will cloud mine eyes in 

divinest ecstasy : 
And I shall see thy sweet lips smile on the 

thief thy kisses robbing — 

More rapacious thief because of the longing 

grown so strong: 
And despair — and desolating doubts — now, 

thou art my own, 
Thy caresses on my lips — on mine alone ! 
Wearied thro' joy thou sleepest upon my 

hearts 

I — I — faint with the exquisite bliss of thy 

possession. 

27 



REX MEUS. 

stars, sweet and bright above, 

Art thou watched to-night by my love? 

My King I 
Does thy inscrutable mysterious beauty hold 

enraptured him. 
Whose soul is bright with thoughts that 
make thy beauty dim. 
My King ! 

sweet, fragrant night, foldest thou thy 

mysteries round him ? 
And hears he my sad voice an echo dim? 

My King ! 
Hears he midst these faint sweet melodies 

of night 
The singing in the heart of love heavenly 
bright? 

My King ! 

gentle breeze, telling of a far-off heaven, 
Unto thy flower-laden fragrance is his mes- 
sage given? 
My King ! 

28 



Rex Meus* 

Dreams he of one oilier night— the happiest 

— ^best — 
When his heart throbbed against my breast? 
My King ! 

You answer not, thou who to my soul art 

nearest — 
Canst not give me one little sigh, dearest? 

My Km:;! 
A sigh to this silent night, 
To bear my sad heart that darkness may be- 
come light: 
My King ! 

Murmur: "I love thee," breeze from Elysian 

shore ; 
Thy faintest sigh with deepest rapture stirs 
my soul forevermore, 
My King I 
far-away enchanting skies, 
The wind only answers low my mournful 
sighs. 

My King ! 



W 



OPTATUS. 

My heart is dark, my friend, sorrow's waves 
Are breaking darkly o'er my life — and, sul- 
len, lave 
The solitary sands where stand I — see, my 

soul 
In this wild tempest faints ! Friend, canst 
hear their roll? 

In this darkness? 
Steal thy hand into mine — 
Dear friend ! 

On this lonely beach of wasted life, the 

night 
Comes desolate down — mine eves see not the 

light 
Of our dear Lord's face — but darkness fath- 
omless. 
Impenetrable — surrounds me — Oh friend, 
From this abyss 

And from the gloom 
Save this wounded one — 
Thy friend ! 
30 



Optatus* 

The sea relentless moans and all in vain I 

dream 
To see it lie serene in pulseless rest — 
Wtih heaven's bright sunlight glowing on 

its breast — 
In vain ! 1 stand alone — see its sorrowing 
bosom heaves, 

Most mournful grieves. 
Canst take my hand, 
My friend ! 

The day is long, my friend, and ever my 

heart's desire 
In restless agony burns with immortal fire. 
And, weary, I stare over this melancholy 

sea — 
Remorseless waves — wrecked ships — sorrow's 
mists — encompass me ! 
Turn thou my heart 
Upward to heaven's light, 
My friend! 

Cloud on cloud, dear friend, hide the face 

of One 
Whom I would my fainting spirit might 

behold— the Son ! 
Zt 



Optattjs* 

Across the gloomy sea shall it ever be 
My sad heart looks and longs for thee: 

Alone I stand — 

Clasp close my hand. 
My friend! 

How rough the stones, my friend — I would 

I could rest 
From fear and wandering sore — safe upon 

thy breast. 
Shall I know at last the mystery of life 

laid bare 
Of love divine and human, glowing with 
fires rare? 

Oh, say not in vain 
Is this fatal pain — 
Dear friend ! 



32 



TO MONSEIGNEUEl. 

Like a damask rose in bloom, 
Like a blossom of perfume, 
Like a dainty flower in May, 
Or like the morning to the day. 
Like the light of a sun ray. 
Like rippling waters in moon-kissed bay — 
Even such is my love — whose thread is spun, 
Drawn out and in by beauty, as enchanting 
river runs. 

Like the lilies newly springing, 

Like the clouds new beauties bringing, 

Like a bird I heard to-day, 

Or like the pearled dew in May, 

Like the perfume of a flower. 

Like a honey-suckle bower. 

Or like a fragrant blossom on a tree — 

Even so are my lover's lips to me ! 

Like the scent of new-mown hay. 
Like the beauty where Nilus lilies lay, 
Like a sweet thought, or like unto a dream, 
Or like the murmur of a stream, 
33 



To Monsci§:ncur« 

Or like the shiver of the trees 
In the sweet whisperings of coming breeze — 
Even such my love — more than life's breath 
Is here, in my soul, unto death. 



34 



ATTHIS. 

I love thee — list, ^tis the sweetest word of 

all- 
Dearest, long, long ago, in the tender, fra- 
grant Fall, 
Whispering, in longing, tender call. 
Sighing — heart, so fire-flamed — beating 

fast 
Dearest, long, long ago, in eons past — 
In softest, sweetest rapture, first and last — 
Then — then — the flame of love in sweet- 
est rain. 
Seizes — possesses — the star-lighted mystic 
night again. 



35 



TO MONSEIGI^EUR. 

In the great hush of the silent night, 
When possessed by thoughts of thee my 
slumbers flee^ 
Whom, in the darkness, doth my soul seek, 
My love, but thee? 

For, despite the ever melancholy care. 

And thought of future sorrow, how joy- 
fully, 
I dream away that solitary hour — 
My love, with thee ! 

More still than the unfathomed mystery of 
night. 

More beautiful than the quiet stars of that 
midnight hour. 

More profoundly thrilled with exquisite de- 
light, my heart lies 
Beneath thy power. 



36 



TIRED. 

So tired, friend ! All this weary day, 
Struggling against the pall of sorrow's sul- 
len gray. 

This faint heart hath sadly conquered one 
more day. 

So tired ! Almost vanquished, this day hath 
been 
A fierce and sombre battle against God's 
must — 

Strong passions grinding resignation into 
dust. 

Wounded — as a spent deer — omnipotence 

alone 
Can measure the bitterness our hearts 

hath known. 
Friend, thy great love still holds this soul, 

here, thine own. 

Weary — sore — heart and brain — 

So tired with the long soul-eating pain, 
friend, despair! To know it is in 
vain! 

37 



Gloom — not e'en a star — sorrow — life op- 
pressed — 
Rebellion against God's "knoweth best.-' 
A weary waiting for the sleep of death that 
bringeth rest — long rest. 



35 



M0N8EIGNEUR. 

AVhat is his love like unto? 

My glad heart asks, dreaming beneath its 

power. 
"Tis like unto the perfume of some white 

flower, 
That grows on mossy banks near murmuring 

brook wherein the roots deep sink — 
Deep unto the rippling water to give the 

flower sweet life to drink. 

What is his love like unto ? 
'Tis like the singing of a bird. 
Whose sweet melody the lone forest fills, 
And is so softly heard 

By passing mortal who dirams again the 
old, sweet dream of music's thrills. 



39 



A FKAGMENT. 

Kai noBrjoo Kai judojuai. — Sappho. 

love, sweet ! 

As the wild hyacinth blooms in some deep 

forest, 
Deep and fragrant — missed by the seeker: 

so thou — 
No, not true; not missed by one seeker; 
Deep hidden in sweet beauty, perfuming the 

golden air; 
sweet ! rare ! 



40 



NIGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS. 

Night in the mountains, and the glitter 
Of stars in the blue vault above. 
The music of night-birds' twitter 
Aloft — in the language of love! 
Beauty and love with heaven alight, 
And the rustling music of leaves — 
A dream in the silence of night, 
Beneath the moon-lighted trees. 

Here in the night — my spirit complaining- 
Soul-weary, under the golden moon — 
Questions my wild heart unfeigning — 
All my prayer for the boon 
Of an answer from the unknown, 
Of life's mysteries, ever at war, 
Scattered with idols overthrown : 
Passion and pride struggle evermore. 

Mysteries of God ! ^ .'e behold thee ! 
Beauty — passion — silence of night; 
Fragrant flowers, love's hand upon thee, 
Filling with glory the exquisite night, 



Nigfht in the Mountains. 

Jewels of earth, what are ye? 
souls, filled with high aspirations, 
throbbing hearts, what are we ? 
Slow sinking under daily temptations. 



Stars — worlds — above — beyond — come 

nearer ! 
Thy wild rhythm rings in mine ears ; 
To behold — to see thee — clearer, 
Is the passionate cry of dark years. 
unknown, sweet mystery of God, come 

nigher ; 
Changing this doubt and desire to purer 

devotion. 
Soul of mine, struggle no more to mount 

higher ; 
Desire's fierce anguish, sink into tranquil 

emotion. 

Nature — cruel, passionate, sensuous — what 

hereafter ? 
Is it only dust to dust beside an open grave? 
Bitter heart, weary student, list the wild 

laughter 
Of Nature — in sweet mystery stealing down 

forest nave, 

42 



Nigfht in the Mountains^ 

Where lofty pines whisper this to the stars — 
Not to dull mortal heart — earth holds a 

slave — 
Soul, cease thy complaining — Nature the 

great secret bars; 
Creator, Unknown — save, save! 



43 



THE SYBIL BIRD. 

Sweet-throated bird, singing in the tree. 

Sing a happy song to me ; 

A song about a fairy queen living in a lily- 
bell, 

Deep shadowed in a forest dell — 

Of her court — her pageants gay, 

And her lover true and brave, who sings to 
her a lover's roundelay. 

Sweetest bird, sing to me a song, 

Of how they laughed as they danced along; 

Flitting, golden-braided, jewelled-crowned, 

under the white and silvered night ; 
In the soft, caressing light, 
Of the crescent moon— 
How they laughed — how they sang— on this 

mystic night in June. 

Tell so musically sweet 

Of the moonlit meadows where they meet — 

LofC. ** 



The Sybil Bird. 

Where the leaves sink softly down, 
All sere and gold, so gently, to the ground; 
Of the violet-bordered, murmuring brook, 
Eippling by with merry songs round rock 
and crook — 

mystic bird, you sing and sing — 

And this dreamer's heart doth ring and ring 

With the dreams of long ago, and the tears 

of divinest love — 
Of the beauty and the mystery of the won- 
drous stars above — 
dreams of sweetest passion ! fragrant 

poppy flower lull this heart in sleep ; 
Whisper to this restless dreamer, soft and 
low, sleep and no longer weep ! 



45 



A FRAGMENT. 

Here is the heart my king bent o'er. 
Thrilling it with exquisite pleasure; 
And this wild breast he leaned o'er, 
Ever holds true to love's royal treasure. 

poor heart, mad beyond measure, 

hope, so bravely sung o'er — watched o'er 

— prayed o'er — 
love, forevermore, 
To yearn o'er — to sigh o'er — to die o'er. 



46 



LOVE'S MEASURE. 

Thou asketh how much I love thee ? 

How can I tell of thy spirit's strength and 

lofty beauty — 
The beauty that hath caught my spirit in 

a spell: 
The depth and richness of this sweetest 

mystery ? 

To look into thy dear eyes is bliss — 

Yet would I forego the glory of this light, 

To save thee from the deep disquiet 

That comes to the soul in the silence of night. 

To lean upon thy breast doth bring sunlight 

into my soul, 
Yet I would turn from it away — 
Crush down the wild agony in my heart — 
That thou mightest have peace and happi- 
ness one day. 

Thy smile doth turn all darkness into light. 
Touching a harp-like melody within my 

breast ; 
Yet would I forswear this glory evermore. 
If my darkness would make thee blest. 
47 



Lovers Measure* 

Thy voice is sweetest music stealing 

Into my longing soul like benediction after 

prayer; 
Yet I would hear this tender sound no more, 
To save thee — to guard thee from despair. 

To feel thy strong heart beat close unto mine 
Is rapture thrilling my soul with deepest 

adoration. 
Yet I would forever bar this ecstasy, 
To keep thee from the world's soul-killing 

temptation. 

Thou asketh how much I love thee? 
Xaught but deeds can answer this — 
I would give my life to save 
Thee from unhappiness. 



48 



ARISE. 

Lift up thy heart, arise, 

Thy thralldoni is o'er ! 
Awake ! The stars are overhead 
Forevermore. 

Thou hast ever trodden blindly 

A flowery pathway — 
Not sought for life's sweetest flowers, 
Along the way. 

Stern reason has locked shut thy heart; 

No perfume to feed upon — 
Thy strong soul has blossomed, 
Cold pride has gone ! 

And now the flower has burst forth 

And perfumed thy life; 
Has shown thee a gift divine, 

Conquering daily strife. 

The anchor which thou thoughtest 
Would hold thee tempest-tossed, 
Cold human will — stern duty following- 
Broken lies — is lost. 
49 



Arise, 

Look up ! Thy soul grows clearer — 

Seal not her eagle eyes; 
God draws nearer- 
Love lifts to high emprise ! 

Stand forth! Thou art disenthralled- 

The heart's high devotion 
Saves from the world's temptations, 
Thro' love's pure emotion. 



50 



I'Z 1 






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